Paralympic wheelchair fencing gold medalist
Paralympic wheelchair fencing gold medalist
Bebe Vio is like a little ball of positive energy. Passionate and inspiring. Her motto is “Life is too good.” And every time she wins a match and lets out that celebratory scream, we all become believers..
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The road to recovery wouldn’t be easy, but Bebe took on rehab like any other challenge she faced: with ferocious positivity. And after three months of intense physical therapy, she took her first steps on prosthetic legs. It was at that moment Bebe set her sights on winning the Paralympic fencing gold. Some had their doubts, and with good reason:
There had never been a Paralympic fencer without arms or legs. But Bebe refused to listen, saying "Let me try." She worked with her father to create a custom foil, and just three years later, she’d earn a spot on the Italian national team.
Coached by gold medalist Simone Vanni, Bebe took the fencing world by storm, claiming her first World Cup victory in Montreal in 2013 and then her first European Championships in 2014. With each match, Bebe sharpened her skills, readying herself for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. In Rio, all of her hard work and dedication paid off. She cut through the first round of competition without a point scored against her; then in a staggering 15-to-7 victory against the defending champion, Bebe won the gold.